Pigeons go down in double header

In a special Covid fixture the Pigeons made their way out on to the Lavington Sports Club Oval at 2.45pm to face Wangaratta.

The Magpies outfit were desperate to record a win to keep ahead of the chasing pack. In such an even league the race for the double chance means every game counts.

The match had a number of key factors, but the two key standouts would be: keeping control of the ex-AFL twin towers of Reid and Newton and the battle of the strong midfield pairings.

The Pigeons would undoubtedly have spent their preparation well aware that winning the midfield battle would not be enough, they would need to win well and maintain constant pressure on the supply.

Good delivery to quality forwards would kill the Pigeons.

Early on Yarrawonga was up for the fight against the genuine premiership contender with Howe dominate, giving his mids the first look at stoppages.

Wheeler and company won the contested ball but at times, and at vital times, the Pigeons’ skills by foot particularly in the forward half meant that good field position could not be converted on the scoreboard.

Conversely, Wangaratta were able to grab to two quick goals from long range shots from Newton and give Wangaratta a small buffer at the first break.

The second again started evenly but at times the tide seemed as though it was about to turn. Eventually the extra class of Wangaratta took over with cracks starting to appear in the Pigeon armoury in particular: mental lapses, skill errors and simply not being able to run with the opposition.

After half time Coach Whiley looked to his board to make some structural changes.

Down back he kept faith with both Sudholz and Tonna. Sudholz had the job of containing Newton and whilst Newton grabbed his two early goals, Sudholz held Newton to only one more for the day. Such was probably enough to give him the points in the battle.

Tonna in the other title fight had six kicked on him by Reid but was able to hold his own in a lot of one on ones. The contest will be great for his development.

Also, after half time Sexton went onto the dangerous Akers and tried hard to change the momentum.

Whilst the defenders work hard all day, they along with the rest of the side turned the football back over too often and in the end the quality of supply coming back gave their forwards too many looks.

Wheeler, Howe and Masters could hold their heads high, in particular Masters whose courage to fill the space to assist his defenders at times was frightening from the sidelines.

However, in the end Wangaratta had a very even spread of contributors and their capacity and desire to run and spread provided outlet options with the ability to handle to ball cleaner.

That hard running was the difference between both sides.

The Pigeons head back to Lavington again this week in a huge match up.

Wangaratta 3.1, 9.4, 13.6, 14.8.92

Yarrawonga 1.2, 3.3, 3.5, 4.5.29

Goals: Wangaratta: B. Reid 6, M. Newton 3, A. Ankers 2, F. Dent, H. Smart, J. Richards. Yarrawonga: L. Howe 3, B. Frauenfelder.

Best: Wangaratta: M. Kelly, B. Reid, J. Richards, M. Anderson, H. Gottschling, A. Ankers. Yarrawonga: H. Wheeler, L. Masters, L. Howe, C. Sudholz, W. Wheaton, J. Tonna.

Wangaratta 4.3.27 defeated by Yarrawonga 11.5.71.

The reserves had the unusual honour of running out after the 1st XVIII in a crucial match for their 2021 season.

The Wangaratta reserves were sitting second on the ladder with a 6:1 record so the task was ahead of the Pigeons.

The match started in an arm wrestle, but the back half led by Meade, McMillan, O’Dwyer and Clarke controlled the quarter and rebounded everything.

Eventually the forwards were able to take advantage with the side taking a 3-goal buffer into the 1st break.

The second quarter again saw a huge amount of play between the arcs and the quarter was a very level affair.

Leslie and Lovell were in everything. Conway was working hard with Tyson in the ruck.

At the main break on a now very cold night, the Pigeons were four goals clear but certainly not in control.

The third quarter usually defines a game and this match was no different.

It was again the miserly defence that held out a driving Wangaratta.

Fortunately, up forward the running midfielders were able to take advantage with Hemphill and Lovell kicking truly.

The last quarter was a much more open affair with Wangaratta scoring a couple of late goals.

Coach Grinter was very happy with the result in particular the even contribution from so many players to the victory.

Goals: Wangaratta: B. Bray 2, F. HollandDean, H. Allan.

Yarrawonga: T. Lovell 5, M. Hemphill 2, H. Meade, O. Conway, J. Smith.

Best: Wangaratta: T. Norton, Z. Hedin, E. Cartledge, F. Ramage, H. Allan, B. Bray.

Yarrawonga: T. Lovell, X. Leslie, I. McMillan, H. Meade, B. Tyson, R. Clarke.

A week is a long time in football was the catch cry of the last twenty years of football, wonder what Eddie would say of 35 days!

Wangaratta 12.10. 82 defeated Yarrawonga 6.9.45.

The thirds came out firing on the new Lavington Oval enjoying the later start time.

Woodburn, Hemphill and Williams were in everything along with Tyson who was giving his mids a good look at the contested ball.

However, the young Pigeons were unable to stay in the contest long enough in the first half as they bleed 4 goals in the second whilst only ably to score 4 points themselves.

9 shots on goal to 7 at half time was about right.

The 3rd quarter was another even affair. “Whiskey” Willis who has been a great contributor week in week out was a standout and despite the deficit at three ¼ time there was confidence in the group they could pull their way back into the contest.

The start of the final stanza was an even affair. However, eventually the Magpies found the ascendancy running away with the match.

Whilst the young Pigeons were beaten by a strong side their commitment to the contest cannot be questioned and they must turn their attention to training hard week in week out.

Goals: Wangaratta: Jayden Adamo 3, Xavier Laverty 2, Ethan Guy 2, Braeden Marjanovic 2, Daniel Tidball 2, Harrison Hewitt 1.

Yarrawonga: Hunter Surrey 2, Benjamin Woodburn 1, Kyal Tyson 1, Liam Williams 1, Toby Martin 1.

Best: Wangaratta: Harrison Hewitt, Joseph Gray, Tom Montgomery, Waitai Tua, Patrick Wright, Jayden Adamo.

Yarrawonga: Oscar Willis, Benjamin Woodburn, Sam Hemphill, Liam Williams, Ben Coghill, Damon Kaine.

They say a week is a long time in football – try 35 days between games and still no crowds on the Victorian side of the Murray. What strange times we are witnessing.

As things stand today we know very little with certainty. Perhaps the only thing we know is that we all want to try and get out there and play.

As for how the season will progress, you can almost back it in that it will be different to what we think or it already has been.

We are trying our best to keep you informed and our Facebook and Instagram pages are great sources for information and all things Yarrawonga Pigeons!

The trip to Lavington was a long day with the 2nds not getting out of the oval until nearly 8pm. However, 5 wins from 7 outings was a good result for the day/night with the all-conquering netball squad bringing home 4 of the 5 wins!

Netball Awards: A: Grinter, B: Lovell, C: Barnes, U17: Kennedy.

Football Awards: (Yarrawonga Hotel) 1sts – Wheeler, 2nds - Lovell, 3rds - Willis.

Great to see a husband and wife duo taking out awards but to all those present at the awards last Saturday at our Major Partner ClubMulwala, we all know who really took out the best on ground performance!

Pigeon Con Joke: “Doctor, doctor, I can’t stop singing ‘what’s new pussycat”

“That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome.” “Is it common?”

“It’s not unusual.”